DVR - Concurrent Audio with HDMI and RCA Cables

All of the outputs on the DVR's are active at the same time.  However, if you have a HDMI cable connected, then the HDMI must be up and running or the HDMI will shut down all output.  Temporarily disconnect the HDMI cable from the DVR end to test the red and white output of the DVR.  Make sure you're in the correct red port as there is a red component port as well as the audio output.

jnscline,

I have a Phonak TV Link, but my HDTV has an audio out(R/L) that I use. But I see no reason why you cannot successfully use the HR20's or HR24's Red/White(R/L) audio outputs to connect the TV Link to. Of course the only audio you will get is when you are actively watching the DirecTV DVR. Now my TVLink came with two "audio connection" cables. One has red/white RCA stereo jacks on one end and a single audio jack on the other end. The second cable is a single audio jack on each end. You MUST use the first cable that I described with the red/white jack connected to the DVR and the single jack on the other end connected to the TVLink device. The second cable I described is most likely what you are connecting the TVLink to your iPhone with(single audio jack on both ends...this one will NOT work on a TV or DVR). If you do not have the cable with the red/white jacks, see your audiologist(or contact Phonak) to get the correct cable for connecting the TVLink to the stereo output of the DVR. I "LOVE" my TVLink and had my audiologist order me a second power cable and stereo audio cable, so I could just disconnect the TVLink, leaving the existing power cord and cable attached to my home HDTV and take the TVLink with me when I use my RV. This phenomenal technology has allowed me to hear TV(and movies) like I haven't heard them in "many" years.

P.S.

DCD,

You need to find out if your's supports the TVLink....it's GREAT.

Thanks much DCD and DJDICETN....

Now here's the good news.  It turns out that the problem was that the bluetooth on the TVLink was not connecting with the iCom.  Once I carefully followed the re-sync instructions, I now have the TVLink working.  

Getting a second power cable and stereo/audio cable is a great idea.  I will contact my audiologist about that! 

Thanks for all your help! 
Jody 

PS Once I got bluetooth working, I did try using the audio out on my TV, but it only worked if I was using the TV tuner.  Panasonic recommended that I use the Direct TV audio out. 

jnscline,

Glad to hear you found the problem. I should have thought about that. I have had my TVLink base station "go stupid" on me once or twice since I started using it about 6 months ago and had to do the re-sync to get it connecting to my iCom. Enjoy!!!!

P.S.

People ask me all the time what that is I'm wearing around my neck(the iCom) and when I tell them it's a bluetooth device for my hearing aids that works with my phone or any audio device they can't believe technology has come that far. I must admit, when I first saw the ad my audiologist was running for the free TVLink/iCom with a pair of Phonak's I thought it was just a gimmick. Once I tried it out I was blown away with the quality of using these devices. It's like learning to hear all over again. I have experienced a little "reverb" when playing BluRay movies that use my AVR for the surround sound and the TV for the center channel but aside from that I am hearing TV like I haven't in years. I used to ask my wife all the time....what did she say, when watching a movie with a female voice in an frequency being corrected by my Phonaks but not any more:0)

P.S.S.

My audiologist ordered me another power cord and RCA audio cable for about $30(I think). Since I've got my TVLink plugged in behind my entertainment center and the RCA audio cable into the back of my HDTV it's very convenient to just leave those and take the TVLink base station RV'ing. Again, enjoy!!!!

djdicetn,

I do wish that I could find a way to have the TVLink "work" connected to either the TV or even the Sound System so that I am not limited to only using with Direct TV input. 
Was there any "trick" when you hooked up to your TV? 

Jody

jnscline,

Can you give us the Manufacturer & Model# of your TV(s)(i.e. mine is a Toshiba 42LX196) so we can try to find an online user manual for it? Which TV is your "main TV" that you prefer to use for the Phonak? No trick for my hookup, really, except my TV has two regular analog(RCA type-Red/White) audio outputs. The one I connected to is referred to as an Audio/Video output to use for connecting a VCR for editing or dubbing(I used the audio Right/Left-Red/White connections only, leaving the Video-Yellow connection unused). The other audio output is referred to as a Variable Audio Out and this output is designed to be connected to an amplifier and is not the correct one to use. I would have to look at your TV manual to determine if you have a regular audio out. You mentioned Panasonic and that you tried the audio out and could only get the audio from the TV tuner and that you contacted Panasonic and they advised you to connect to the DirecTV audio output. That doesn't sound promising, but did you make certain that you had the DirecTV "input" selected on the TV???? If you were not "actively watching DirecTV" on the TV when you tried it that may be the problem. Unfortunately very few sound systems(Audio/Video Receivers) have an audio output that passes any and all selected "input source" that is connected to it:0(

You may very well have to consider upgrading your TV. Is it an HDTV(you did say your DVR's were connected to the TV's with HDMI)???? I find it difficult to believe that if it is a recent model HDTV that it doesn't have an audio output that passes audio for whatever input device to the TV that is selected. Give us the make/model# and we'll go from there. I agree....I too would be disappointed if I couldn't use the Phonak system for whatever I was watching on TV.

djdcetn,

Thanks for offering to try to help figure this out.  It is a Panasonic 50" HDTV (Plasma).  Here is a link to the manual:

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Televisions/Plasma-HDTVs/model.TH-50PX6U

Maybe I should have said I want it to work with all inputs. 

Jody

*******************

PS

Here is the chat transcript with Panasonic:
Agent Hector D. says:   Thank you for contacting PanasonicViera Concierge, how may I help you today?
Customer Jody says:   We have a TH50PX6U currently connected via HDMI.  We have Direct TV that runs through our sound system to the TV.  I just got a hearing aid accessory that needs to use the program out for audio.  The only way I've gotten it to work is to change to TV tuner
Customer Jody says:   Can the program out for audio work when hdmi is connected and the input is direct tv?
Agent Hector D. says:    How is the hearing aid accessory connected?
Customer Jody says:   IT needs to connect via RCA red/white audio cable.... I read the manual and used the "program out" red/white
Agent Hector D. says:   Connect it to the DIrect TV box .

jnscline,

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you:0(

After reviewing the User Manual I believe the Prog Out Audio terminals on your plasma TV should work. But you need to go into the Menu/Setup menu and check the setting selected for "Prog-Out Stop". It's not "real clear" in the manual(see Pages 16-17 & 30-31), but I think if this is "on" it blocks the outputs from the HDMI, Component, etc. from being passed through these video/audio outputs. Although that may be "backwards and it needs to be set to "Off"(it's not very clear on that). I would recommend that whatever it is currently set on, just change it to the other and re-connect your TVLink to the audio out terminals for PROG OUT and then select the different Inputs for the TV and see if you hear audio in your Phonak for all of them. It looks like the Panasonic CSR/Agent just didn't know about the "Prog-Out Stop" setting. Hope this works for you!!!!

djdicetn

Thanks so much for your help.  It took me awhile but I did try the Prog-Out Stop solution. Turns out that it isn't an on/off setting (not at all clear from the manual), but a place where a particular prog-out can be specified.  In another Panasonic manual I found this description:

To prevent howling and image oscillation, stops output of the pictures and audio specified in this
menu. (p. 35) (Off/Comp.1/Comp.2/HDMI 1/HDMI 2/Video 1/Video 2/Video 3)

It was set to Off and if set to off then I believe the Prog-Out Audio should work.  I'm going to try to contact Panasonic again with a more specific question (How do I get Prog-Out Audio to work?).  

If I get a solution I'll post it here.

Jody